It’s real and it exists so let’s try to acknowledge it, many have had to face it head on and lost the battle. Today we shine the light on mental wellness.
I live in a community where mental wellness is not taken seriously, what comforts me a bit is that the younger generation is aware of it and take it serious to some extent but it’s not spoken about a lot, maybe now and then some light is shed on it when we hear news of a famous person who seemed seemingly happy in front of people but no one knew anything, not even their closest friends or relatives.
People have a big problem with really sharing what they are going through, for some, it could be that they don’t feel like anyone will listen, some it’s because they do talk and somehow cry out for help but no one really hears their cry for help or just that no one is paying attention, for some people it this feeling of being ashamed because they think it makes you weak to speak out.
It is not a good thing to hear the news that someone has taken their life, whether you know them personally or not it is heartbreaking and very sad to think if only they had that one person to open up to and share what is happening in their mind, what is bothering them and making them have suicidal thoughts.
I went through this when I was younger, around when I was 14 years, I even wrote a letter about why I was thinking suicide was my way out but well I guess I had no guts to do it, I’m not really sure but for a person to go to the extent of going through with this action, they must be going through intense and unbearable pain.
It becomes tricky when you do ask someone how are they and they just tell you I’m fine, you ask them are you happy, they reply yes I am. We tend to pretend a lot and forget that our own mental health is important, so we have to somehow play sherlock and look for clues about if a person is really as OK as they say, but all I can say is before you choose that road, try to seek help, there are organisations that work with such situations, I’ll add some links at the bottom of this post.
I have a problem with showing or sharing my emotions, I find it hard to talk to family or friends if I’m feeling really low but my way of healing and making sense of what goes on in my mind has been to write about it, cry if I have to, spend my time alone ( although I do this a lot, its a topic for another day), Play feel-good music and sing my lungs out, (the neighbours can confirm this) till my throat feels dry, it helps me a lot.
I think seeing that we don’t easily share what troubles us, we need to see when our friends or family are giving subtle messages. Usually, people will write these small messages on their WhatsApp status, Facebook pages, twitter, it should be our job to pay attention to each other, we fear to be vulnerable and keep it all inside. Please don’t.
People will sometimes not tell you what you want to hear but sometimes it as because they probably see what you don’t, so give them the benefit of doubt, your closest friends could know you better than you’re willing to admit but if they love and care for you, they will not give you advice that leads you to into a fire, I for one have mentioned how I may be too blunt but I always mean it for the best, maybe I should tone it down and change my approach but I never want my loved one to commit suicide.
I’ve experienced it with some of my family and it’s s devastating to the people you leave behind. If you are hurting please speak out, write it out, find a pen pal, email buddy, speak to your husband, wife, children, boyfriend, girlfriend, pastor, depression and suicide hotline, just let it out, talk, pray, meditate, take a walk, go hiking, just do something as long as it doesn’t involve you ending your life. I can almost guarantee there is someone in your life who would wish you had told them.
I know we all have our problems and sometimes we are too busy focusing on ourselves. We can be selfish, it happens. You can contact me too if you are looking for someone to listen without judgment, I might not have the best advice or tell you what you want to hear but I promise I will listen even if I have no words for you.
We don’t always have to get feedback or advice or solution but just to be heard can change so much, I write this as I’m going through a painful experience and the best thing for me now is that someone is listening and also I’m writing it out. I don’t know what you are going through but one last time, let it out. I’ve said my piece and now it’s your turn.
http://www.sadag.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=114
https://lifeline.co.za/
